At least, resistance is still possible in France. Let's see the bastard try "reforms", those idiots who'll vote for him aren't the ones in the streets anyway. The old, flaccid and retired Sarko supporters will spend the day watching on their tv what happens, flipping back to johnny hallyday concert videos to enjoy the nostalgia they feel for les trente glorieuses that drives so many of them an explains a lot of Sarko's latest rhetoric on '68.

And, let's be objective about this. Penchant for authoritarianism aside, which I find truly distasteful, Sarko is hardly Bush. Ideologically I find him rather soft, definitely right-wing with some neo-lib tendancies, not far from Clinton (either one) or many of the other Democratic candidates in the present field so many Americans seem so happy about.

She may still win. Lots of moving parts, including Bayrou's influence, who appears to be hardening against Sarko, and Le Pen's consigne, it must be a tough environment to poll in, the fact they appear still relatively close (53/47) yet immobile points me to a suspcion the pollsters can't figure out what the underlying dynamic is, that they haven't changed their bucket sampling.  

There's also the legislatives, where Bayrou's project may bear fruit. The Hallyday fan club (full disclosure, I once shared drinks with the guy) will vote for Sarko, but will they vote for the faceless UMP guy whose party hasn't done shit for France for 12 years? Less certain. All those Bayrou votes reported to Sarko do not report to UMP in all likelihood.

We shall see, but there's no sense in despairing for France. You want a country to despair, think like lupin, he's got the right idea. These are tough times to be an American.

Fai de bèn a Bertrand, te lou rendra en cagant